§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Moldova and his Department's assessment of the political situation in that country. [131836]
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§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 25 July 2000]: Bilateral relations with Moldova are good. Our Ambassador in Bucharest is also accredited to Moldova and he and his staff visit regularly. Her Majesty's Government, through Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development technical assistance, support projects designed to promote economic and democratic development. This year bilateral assistance has supported a range of projects including police training, training of journalists, an education programme for teachers and work in the conflict prevention field. The Under-Secretary of State for International Development opened the Department for International Development's office in Chisinau in June 2000.
Her Majesty's Government hope that the current debate over the constitutional issues in Moldova will not undermine the prospects for economic reform. HMG remain concerned about the situation in Transdniestria and support the work of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in promoting a political settlement. HMG continue to press Russia to comply with commitments made at the OSCE Istanbul summit in November 1999 to complete withdrawal from Moldovan territory by the end of 2002. Her Majesty's Government have contributed £100,000 to the OSCE voluntary fund to assist with this withdrawal and has offered, in principle, to provide resettlement training for the Russian troops based in Transdniestria.